Tom Holland says 'struggling without booze' during dry January push spurred him toward sobriety
Tom Holland says 'struggling without booze' during dry January push spurred him toward sobriety
Spider-Man star Tom Holland recently became extremely candid during an interview, opening up about how he came to embrace sobriety as a result of a very trying Dry January.
Dry January, that month-long challenge wherein participants forego booze, exposed Holland to face the reality of his relation with drinking. "I thought it'd be easy, but actually, it turned out really really really hard," Holland said. "During Dry January, I struggled not to drink. It really gave me a run for my money in terms of realizing that booze had a bigger hold on me than I thought."
I wasn't prepared for my mind and body to react the way they did, especially as the days went by and there was no more alcohol," the 28-year-old actor said. "I didn't think I had a problem, but after just a few days trying to stay sober, I started to feel uneasy," Holland continued. "It made me take a step back really and really reflect on why I was struggling so much with something that I thought would be simple."
Holland said that experience taught him that he had to change his habits. "It wasn't just about missing the social aspects of drinking. I realized that I was relying on alcohol to relax, unwind, and even cope with stress. That realization was a bit of a wake-up call."
It was challenging at first, but then it really did bring a major personal breakthrough," Holland said about Dry January. "By the end of the month, I was feeling quite a lot better—I had more energy, I was sleeping better, and I felt clearer-headed, he revealed. That's when I made the decision to keep going and see where it would take me.
Well, Holland says he's gone whole hog for sobriety, and indeed his life has changed, according to him. "I am much more in control of myself and my emotions," he said. "I didn't know how much alcohol was affecting me until I quit."
His support also includes people around him, especially girlfriend Zendaya, of whom he says, "She's been my rock. She knows what's going on. It's not easy, but she trusts me and believes in me." He thinks it is really important to have a good support system during such a personalized transformation.
Whether or not Tom Holland's decision to quit was a simple New Year's challenge, it is clear that the road has settled into the actor's personal development. Opens on his struggles to cut back on alcohol, the film shows how many struggle when reconsidering their relationship with alcohol and has captured fans and those who may be thinking along the same lines.
Holland ended his reflection on a hopeful note: "I don't regret the decision at all. It's been one of the best things I've done for myself."
